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ANALYSIS AND OPINION EUGENE ARTHURS


A luminary in light


In January 2018, Dr Eugene Arthurs is to retire as CEO of SPIE following 18 years with the society. He speaks to Electro Optics about his time heading the international photonics association


What aspects of your position as SPIE CEO have you enjoyed the most? I have greatly enjoyed the people of our community and the many SPIE staff who have inspired me with their dedication to serving with ever higher levels of professionalism. I used to have a desk sign, ‘Good enough isn’t’, but I found it redundant at SPIE. Other very enjoyable aspects of the role have been the intellectual stimulation from the constant advances in photonics, from nano to celestial, and not forgetting the bio wetware, and for someone with my passion for innovation, where else would one find such a cornucopia?


How has the role of SPIE evolved over the past two decades? SPIE has always been an important element in the photonics industry, with our events and publications, the latter being the most cited in photonics patents. Over the last two decades I’d like to think that SPIE has played an important role in establishing the identity of the photonics industry. We’re not there yet, but we are gaining recognition. I recall going round an exhibit in our industry with a potential investor in the 1980s and he said this struck him as a hobby show. The analysts


at Photonics West, walking around The Moscone Centre, in perhaps the prime top tier city for emerging technology in the US, have a completely different view. No more second tier for photonics.


In a time when students


have many choices, a good number of them less than desirable perhaps, SPIE has supported and encouraged countless students. I’d have to go back and add to my answer to your first question. There is nothing better than someone saying they are enjoying a productive, rewarding and fun career in photonics, and saying that SPIE played a formative role in getting them involved or interested when they were a student. These students are the fuel for photonics innovation. We continue to foster the future.


What do you see as the main strengths of the European photonics industry in the future, given the growth seen in other regions such as Asia? Germany has always been an optics and photonics power and I have previously noted that Jena was to optics what Silicon Valley was to the early semiconductor industry. I give the European Union great credit for its recognition of photonics, and being a founder member of the board of


24 Electro Optics December 2017/January 2018


Arthurs speaking at Photonics West early in 2017


stakeholders for Photonics21 I have had the privilege to be part of this cooperative effort spanning industry, academia and EU administration to keep Europe strong in photonics.


One side effect of the speed of technology development within our industry is the plethora of options that it offers to those beginning their careers. What can the industry do to retain and develop that talent, so the core needs of photonics remain fulfilled? The dizzying rate of development impacts technology broadly and the expansion of science makes me wonder how anyone can call himself or herself a scientist today. This requires


“ There is nothing better than someone saying they are enjoying a productive, rewarding and fun career in photonics, and saying that SPIE played a formative role in getting them involved or interested when they were a student”


lifelong learning, which is another key goal of SPIE. The technology our community has created has pervaded life generally with much more to come. Any company that wants the brightest and best to fuel growth must provide a stimulating environment, one where talent has the encouragement and freedom


@electrooptics | www.electrooptics.com


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